Privacy and weather shield

Abstract

A privacy and weather shield for use with an automobile having a side door includes a canopy including first and second panels pivotally coupled together and each having opposed front and rear edges, respectively, each panel having a framework covered by a waterproof material. The canopy includes a runner slidably coupled to a shaft and a plurality of stretchers are operatively coupled to the runner and to the canopy such that movement of the runner causes the stretchers to move the canopy between a stowed configuration in which the panels are folded/stowed and a deployed configuration in which the panels are extended/deployed. The canopy may be secured atop an automobile cab and door with an elastic fastener extending between the runner and the side door of the automobile. First and second curtains may be releasably coupled to the canopy.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A privacy and weather shield for use with an automobile having a side door, said privacy and weather shield, comprising:
 a canopy including a first panel having opposed front and rear edges and including a second panel having opposed front and rear edges, said first and second panels being pivotally connected to one another along an axis having an elongate and linear configuration; 
 wherein said first and second panels each having a framework covered by a waterproof material; 
 a linkage coupled to said first and second panels along said axis that is operative, when actuated, to move said canopy between a stowed configuration at which said second panel is pivoted about said axis and urged toward said first panel in a folded manner and a deployed configuration at which said first and second panels are pivoted about said axis and urged away from one another in an extension manner; 
 wherein said front edges of said first and second panels, respectively, together define a width dimension that is longer than a width dimension defined by said rear edges of said first and second panels, respectively; 
 an elastic fastener having a first end coupled to said canopy and a second end releasably coupled to the side door of the automobile; 
 and 
 a first curtain having an upper edge releasably coupled to said front edges of said first and second panels, respectively, said first curtain having a body member that hangs from said front edges, respectively. 
 
     
     
       2. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second curtain; 
 wherein said first panel includes an outer side edge extending between said front and rear edges of said first panel, respectively, said outer side edge of said first panel defining a continuous second length; and 
 wherein said second curtain includes an upper edge releasably coupled to said outer side edge of said first panel along an entirety of said second length, said second curtain having a body portion that hangs from said outer side edge. 
 
     
     
       3. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said front edges of said first and second panels, together, include a first attachment structure; and 
 said upper edge of said first curtain includes a second attachment structure that is complementary to and releasably coupled to said first attachment structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said outer side edge of said first panel includes a third attachment structure; and 
 said upper edge of said second curtain includes a fourth attachment structure that is complementary to and releasably coupled to said third attachment structure. 
 
     
     
       5. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said first and second attachment structures include hook and loop fastener material; 
 said third and fourth attachment structures include hook and loop fastener material. 
 
     
     
       6. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first curtain is manufactured of a fabric material having a flexible construction; 
 said second curtain is manufactured of a fabric material having a flexible construction. 
 
     
     
       7. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 6 , wherein the fabric material of said first and second curtains, respectively, is a nontransparent material. 
     
     
       8. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first curtain includes a plurality of first fastening structures spaced apart and attached along a peripheral edge of said body member, said plurality of first fastening structures each being operative for releasable attachment to portions of the automobile; 
 said second curtain includes a plurality of said fastening structures spaced apart and attached along a peripheral edge of said body portion, said plurality of fastening structures each being operative for releasable attachment to portions of the automobile. 
 
     
     
       9. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first and second panels have a trapezoidal configuration when deployed for use; 
 said first panel includes a bottom surface having a planar configuration that is supported atop the side door of the automobile when open; and 
 said second panel includes a lower surface having a planar configuration that is supported atop a rooftop of a cab of the automobile. 
 
     
     
       10. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shaft positioned along a bottom surface of said canopy at a juncture between said first and second panels of said canopy and having an elongated and linear configuration so as to define said longitudinal axis; 
 wherein said linkage includes a runner slidably coupled to said shaft and a plurality of stretchers having a proximal end coupled to said runner and a distal end coupled to said first and second panels, respectively, such that a movement of said runner causes said stretchers to pivotally move said first and second panels between said stowed and said deployed configurations. 
 
     
     
       11. A privacy and weather shield for use with an automobile having a side door, said privacy and weather shield, comprising:
 a canopy including a first panel pivotally coupled to a second panel, said first and second panels each having opposed front and rear edges, respectively, said first and second panels each having a framework covered by a waterproof material; 
 a shaft positioned along a bottom surface of said canopy at a juncture between said first and second panels of said canopy and having an elongate and linear configuration so as to define a longitudinal axis; 
 a runner slidably coupled to said shaft; 
 a plurality of stretchers each having a proximal end coupled to said runner and a distal end coupled to said first and second panels, respectively, such that a movement of said runner causes said stretchers to pivotally move said first and second panels between a stowed configuration at which said second panel is pivoted about said longitudinal axis and urged toward said first panel in a folded manner and a deployed configuration at which said first and second panels are pivoted about said axis and urged away from one another in an extension manner; 
 wherein said front edges of said first and second panels, respectively, together define a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension defined by said rear edges of said first and second panels, respectively; 
 an elastic fastener having a first end coupled to said runner and a second end releasably coupled to the side door of the automobile; 
 wherein said front edges of said first and second panels, together, define an elongate continuous span; 
 a first curtain having an upper edge releasably coupled to said front edges of said first and second panels, respectively, and along an entirety of said span, said first curtain having a body member that hangs from said rear edges of said first and second panels, respectively. 
 
     
     
       12. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second curtain; 
 wherein said first panel includes an outer side edge extending between said front and rear edges of said first panel, respectively; and 
 wherein said second curtain includes an upper edge releasably coupled to said outer side edge of said first panel, said second curtain having a body portion that hangs from said outer side edge. 
 
     
     
       13. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said front edges of said first and second panels, together, include a first attachment structure having hook and loop fasteners; and 
 said upper edge of said first curtain includes a second attachment structure having hook and loop fasteners that is complementary to and releasably coupled to said first attachment structure. 
 
     
     
       14. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said outer side edge of said first panel includes a third attachment structure having hook and loop fasteners; and 
 said upper edge of said second curtain includes a fourth attachment structure having hook and loop fasteners that is complementary to and releasably coupled to said third attachment structure. 
 
     
     
       15. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said first curtain is manufactured of a fabric material having a flexible construction; 
 said second curtain is manufactured of a fabric material having a flexible construction. 
 
     
     
       16. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 15 , wherein the fabric material of said first and second curtains, respectively, is a non-transparent material. 
     
     
       17. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said first curtain includes a plurality of first fastening structures spaced apart and attached along a peripheral edge of said body member, said plurality of first fastening structures each being operative for releasable attachment to portions of the automobile; 
 said second curtain includes a plurality of second fastening structures spaced apart and attached along a peripheral edge of said body portion, said plurality of second fastening structures each being operative for releasable attachment to portions of the automobile. 
 
     
     
       18. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of first and second fastening structures are magnets. 
     
     
       19. The privacy and weather shield as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said canopy has a trapezoidal configuration when said first and second panels are deployed for use; 
 said first panel includes a bottom surface having a planar configuration that is supported atop the side door of the automobile when said canopy is deployed; and 
 said second panel includes a lower surface having a planar configuration that is supported atop a rooftop of a cab of the automobile when said canopy is deployed. 
 
     
     
       20. A privacy and weather shield for use with an automobile having a side door, said privacy and weather shield, comprising:
 a canopy including a first panel pivotally coupled to a second panel, said first and second panels each having opposed front and rear edges, respectively, said first and second panels each having a framework covered by a waterproof material; 
 a shaft positioned along a bottom surface of said canopy at a juncture between said first and second panels of said canopy and having an elongate and linear configuration so as to define a longitudinal axis; 
 a runner slidably coupled to said shaft; 
 a plurality of stretchers each having a proximal end coupled to said runner and a distal end coupled to said first and second panels, respectively, such that a movement of said runner causes said stretchers to pivotally move said first and second panels between a stowed configuration at which said second panel is pivoted about said longitudinal axis and urged toward said first panel in a folded manner and a deployed configuration at which said first and second panels are pivoted about said axis and urged away from one another in an extension manner; 
 wherein said front edges of said first and second panels, respectively, together define a width dimension that is longer than a width dimension defined by said rear edges of said first and second panels, respectively; and 
 an elastic fastener having a first end coupled to said runner and a second end releasably coupled to the side door of the automobile.